Kannada film industry pins hopes on upcoming big-ticket releases

The pandemic, the rise of OTT platforms, and aspirations for pan-India success significantly impacted the Kannada film industry. After a banner year in 2022 with blockbusters like KGF 2, Kantara and 777 Charlie, the year 2023 turned out to be a mixed bag for the Kannada film industry. The year ended with a bang with Darshan Thoogudeepa’s Kaatera, and its success spilled over to 2024.However, the trend seems to have stopped there. So far, 110 Kannada films have hit the screens this year, and none of them — whether experimental, off-beat or commercial — has managed a successful run at the box-office. Experts suggest that what the film industry needs right away is at least one money-spinner to set the ball rolling. Now, with a line-up of big-ticket films primed for release in the second half of 2024, the Kannada film industry sets its sights on a comeback. Can these films deliver the hits Kannada cinema desperately needs?
Small films, bright sparks: The experimental streak continues
Like 2023, which saw small films like Daredevil Musthafa and Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare make some noise at the box-office, this year too, some of the encouraging attempts, including Case of Kondana, KTM, Kerebete, Hadinelentu, Matsyagandha, among others did evoke curiosity among cinema goers. But the critical acclaim did not translate into box office success. While Upadhyaksha and Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe did fare better at the box-office, films like Chef Chidambara and Happy Birthday To Me made it to the list of dark comedy, a genre rarely considered in Kannada film industry.
Kannada filmmakers also kept the experimental cinema movement going with films such as Rangasamudra, Juni, Saramsha, Blink, Photo, Shakhahaari, Somu Sound Engineer, Lineman, O2, Grey Games, Moorane Krishnappa, and Chilli Chicken. Though they did not strike gold, most of these films won critical acclaim, and some of them are faring well on OTT platforms.

The riddle of missing stars
Cinema pundits have attributed lack of star-studded films, which are crowd pullers in the Kannada film industry, for the poor show so far. Big-ticket films such as Shivarajkumar, Prabhudeva and Yogaraj Bhat’s Karataka Damanaka, Rakshit Shetty’s Bachelor Party, Guruprasad and Jaggesh’s Ranganayaka, Sharan and Suni’s Avatara Purusha 2, Rishi’s Ramana Avatara, Ravichandran’s The Judgement, Dhananjaya’s Kotee, Yuva Rajkumar’s launch vehicle Yuva, were some of the films that were expected to perform better than they have at the box office.
“The year 2023 was a big lesson to our actors, especially stars, who tried to encash on the pan-India trend. The move backfired completely,” shares an aspiring female filmmaker, on the condition of anonymity. “Only if we can entice the middle class, who are our actual audience, can we think about taking our films to the next level. Home ground should be our first priority,” she opines.

Controversies blemish KFI
Two divorces, a murder case and a call to shut down the film industry for a month - June has to be one of the most controversial months so far. The month began with the news of rapper Chandan Shetty and actor Niveditha Gowda’s divorce, which was immediately followed by a shocker to Doddmane fans - Yuva Rajkumar and Sridevi Byrappa’s divorce proceedings and the ensuing mudslinging in the public. But Darshan’s involvement in Renuka Swamy’s murder case really shook the core of KFI, with the news drawing national attention towards KFI, for the wrong reasons. In May, alarmed by the heavy losses suffered by the Kannada film industry, especially in the past two years, a section of producers, distributors and exhibitors had called for temporary suspension of film industry related activities to discuss the issue. However, no decision was taken in this regard.
Hopes pinned on the second half of 2024
The lineup for the second half of 2024 has given some hope to cinephiles, who are looking at big releases. Films featuring stars like Sudeep, Upendra, Vijay, Sriimurali, Shivarajkumar, Dhruva Sarja and Dhananjaya, who enjoy a mass fanbase, are scheduled for release during the second half of 2024. The momentum is poised to begin with Vijay’s Bheema, slated for release in August, and is likely to snowball with Sudeep’s Max, Shivarajkumar’s Bhairathi Ranagal, followed by Upendra’s UI and Dhruva Sarja’s Martin and KD, and Sriimurali’s Bagheera. Add to this films such as Gowri, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi and Karavali as well as slightly more experimental films such as Powder, Edagaiye Apaghatakke Karana, Agnatavaasi, Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali, Pepe, Family Drama, Maryade Prashne, Firefly and Murphy, which promise to perform well this year.